Confidence boosted by new-found cycling skills

Confidence boosted by new-found cycling
skillsLocal events such
as the Porirua Grand Traverse could have dozens more cycling
entries in coming years, thanks to the KiwiSport-funded
initiative Pedal Ready.

Almost 60 pupils at both
Russell School and Corinna School in Porirua have completed
the basic cycling skills programme. Many children got on a
bike for the first time and finished Pedal Ready with
greater overall confidence.

Since October, 45 Year 5
and 6 Corinna School pupils have learned about helmet and
bike safety checks and practised their balance, control
skills and hand signals. They’ve also found out how a bike
operates.

“Many children couldn’t ride a bike
before we began the programme,” says Year 5 and 6 teacher
Liam Smiley. “By the end they were really buzzing and very
excited by the fact they were riding a bike. The programme
gave them confidence and motivation and most picked the
skills up really fast.”

Pedal Ready is available
free of charge to school children in the Wellington region
and is split into two grades: the initial grade provides
three, one- hour sessions teaching bike handling and cycle
control in an off-road environment; grade two training takes
place on roads in realistic conditions.

Earlier
this year several senior students at Russell School
completed both Pedal Ready grades. Principal Sose Annandale
said the improvement in pupil’s interest in cycling,
confidence and competence was remarkable.

en Velo
received $107,500 from KiwiSport through Sport Wellington to
deliver Pedal Ready to schools in the Wellington area over
the next three years, in partnership with the Greater
Wellington Regional Council. Already more than 450 children
from 12 schools throughout the region have completed the
basic cycling skills programme. In addition about 30 adults
have attended instructor training sessions.

Pedal
Ready regional coordinator Marilyn Northcotte says learning
to work the myriad of moving parts on a bike – pedals,
handle bars, brakes and gears – all simultaneously, helps
children to exercise their manipulative skills, coordination
and body sense.

“As children learn cycling skills
they develop body awareness and explore movement. They gain
balance and learn about transferring their weight. Children
also learn about relationships to people and objects as they
copy the instructor, follow their peers and move in and out
of obstacles,” says Marilyn.

The course also
prepares children for future riding – whether that is out
with friends or family, on the bmx track, riding on the
road, mountain biking or participating in events such as the
Porirua Grand Traverse.

KiwiSport Manager Peter
Woodman-Aldridge says Pedal Ready is a programme which
motivates children to get out and enjoy riding a bike
safely. “The Wellington region has hundreds of kilometres
of bike trails in which kids can use. Pedal Ready gives
them the opportunity and motivation to use these new-found
cycling skills.”

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